A few years ago, Lisa started an annual tradition that involves making gingerbread houses with our nieces and nephews. She spends hours baking the various parts of the houses prior to the big day. Then, usually on the first or second Saturday in December, all of Maylee's Utah cousins come over with candy and other decorating items to spend a few hours making gingerbread houses and having fun. Here are some pictures from December's "Gingerbread Extravaganza".

Lisa set up shop in the kitchen to help with icing and other support functions.Jennie loaded the candy dishes to get the party started. The houses started out pretty plain-looking, but they would soon be covered with icing, Pop Rocks, chocolates, marshmallows, Dots, licorice, and in a case or two, slobber.

Autumn, Andrew, and Maylee were the first to get started building their works of art. Autumn and Andrew decorated houses. Maylee did a train.

Luke and Savannah weren't far behind. Luke made a train, and Savannah made a house.

Luke got some help from his mom, an expert in the science of gingerbread train decorating.

Zachary and Ashlee showed up on the second gingerbread maker shift with their mom for some backup help.

Maylee got some help from Aunt Carolyn.

Ashlee built her rooftop out of mints while Jamie snuck some for the road.

Luckily some of Zach's stash made it onto his train. It was visibly hard to keep from eating the decorations.

Autumn's first idea was to put Santa Claus on the chimney of her house to make sure she foreshadowed what would happen for her on Christmas Eve.

In honor of Hannah Montana, Savannah used some Pop Rocks to decorate her house.

Jamie was obviously taking this thing seriously. The concentration here is intense.